A allegedly intercepted phone conversation between Peter Obi and Bishop David Oyedepo, the head of Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners Chapel, has caused the Labour Party’s presidential nominee to remove himself from the incident..
Obi did not speak in public until two days later, when he responded to accusations made by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed. The audio clip had been published online, causing tensions between Obi’s supporters, known as Obidients, and several of their political opponents, both online and offline. However, Bishop David Oyedepo on Sunday declared he had never campaigned for any politician or spoken to any group on their behalf.
However, the LP candidate went on Twitter on Wednesday to deny the audio’s veracity, claiming that he had continuously remained committed to running an issue-based campaign and was working to create a new Nigeria that was characterised by inclusion, justice, equality, fairness, and wealth.
Obi criticised what he called current efforts by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the APC-led government to deflect attention from “our blatantly stolen mandate” through some government officials and agencies.
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He claims that they have taken on various forms, including “the malicious accusation of the Minister of Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed, the dissemination of a fake doctored audio call, and pressure on me to leave the country.”
The LP candidate said that his legal team had been told to take proper legal action against the online medium in question as well as others, while also denouncing the efforts to “manipulate” Nigerians as “very sad and wicked.” The APC and the APC led-government should cease “their nasty attacks,” he pleaded with all worried Nigerians and the foreign community.
He stated that among other goals, his focus and dedication to “retrieve our mandate to secure and unite our Nation” legally and amicably remain unwavering.
“I repeatedly stated that no one should vote for me based on Tribe or Religion, but rather on the assessment of Character, Competence, Capacity, Credibility, and Compassion that can be trusted to create a New Nigeria!”
“Let me reiterate that the audio call being circulated is fake, and at no time throughout the campaign and now did I ever say, think, or even imply that the 2023 election is, or was a religious war.”
“Elections are over, and we are in court to retrieve our stolen mandate. Let me reiterate that we are doing so through all lawful and peaceful options in line with our legal system and constitution, and I continue to implore all Nigerians to remain peaceful and law abiding.
“Those fixated with heating up the polity, creating divisions, tensions and hatred within and outside Nigeria should remember that Nigeria is our only country,” he said.
